Racial Equality Education and Punjabis in Britain - Book By Sujinder Singh Sanga

Foreword To The Book ‘Racial Equality Education and Punjabis in Britain’ By Sujinder Singh Sanga

It was in 1997 that I had read the book entitled Vlayton Vekhi Dunia—View Points from Britain by Sujinder Singh Sangha. He made a vivid and candid description of the life and culture of the Punjabis in British society. He also gave an account of the problems faced by the Indian people in settling in Britain. It was after 1997 that I met Sujinder Singh a couple of times, with a view to developing links between Guru Nanak Dev University and City College, Birmingham; and also to work on an international accreditation for a BA Business Administration degree programme with Punjabi and Cultural Studies.

I have now got his new book which covers issues relating to equality, diversity and pluralism in a modern and complex society. It essentially creates an awareness about the issues of discrimination and exclusion in the fields of employment, education and other services. These issues with small variations are important for contemplation and appropriate action in different cultures and societies of the world at large.

I was privileged to be in Birmingham to contribute at the Tercentenary celebrations of the formation of the Khalsa at the International Convention Centre on 2nd May, 1999, and listened to the speech made by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who addressed similar issues in a global context. He spoke about the contributions that minority communities have made to the British society, for which they should be given credited further empowerment. The conference emphasized that the new millennium is about living and working together to make collective progress, irrespective of one's race, religion or cultural heritage.

The author conducted that conference for the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham by pulling together a rich diversity of views and people. He has pulled together relevant materials from his past writings and brought them together in the form of a book. It is a timely publication and reminder of issues in Britain and India and it fits the millennium agenda. I believe, the origins of various educational ideas and concepts that the author brings to his professional work, are bound to be of utility for the people of our two countries, India and Britian.

I strongly recommend that people concerned with education, employment and other vital issues should read this book.

About The Author ‘Sujinder Singh Sanga’ Of The Book ‘Racial Equality Education and Punjabis in Britain’

Sujinder Singh Sangha is the Deputy Principal of City College, Birmingham. He was the first Asian person, to have achieved a senior position in England's Further Education colleges sector in 1994-95. He also did some field research with the Commission for Racial Equality, Social and Community Research Institute London. One of his passions is the inner-city renewal and regeneration, to maximise learning, social, economic and cultural opportunities for deprived and disadvantaged communities. He has co-ordinated and conducted community conferences, addressed by leaders ranging from the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to the Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, many civic leaders and distinguished academics. He gained his BA (Hons) Degree in Social Science from the Open University and completed his M.Soc Sc. with the University of Birmingham. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London.

Table Of Contents Of The Book ‘Racial Equality Education and Punjabis in Britain’ By Sujinder Singh Sanga

CONTENTS

—

Acknowledgments

11

—

Foreword

13

—

Terminology, Glossary and Abbrivations

15

—

Introduction

18

SECTION I

MAKING SENSE OF RACE, RACISM AND RACIAL INEQUALITY IN BRITAIN

1

Ideology of Race, Racism and Racial Inequality

29

2

Some Research Methods on Racial Inequality

34

3

The 'Local State' and Racial Inequality

42

4

Racism Awareness Training The ILT Experience

49

5

The Role of Industrial Language Training Service

in Equal Opportunity Policy

56

6

Race Equality Training : Some Practical Issues

65

7

Migration of Black and Asian People into Britain

86

8

On the 'Cultural Baggage' of Ethnic Minorities

92

SECTION II

PROMOTING RACIAL EQUALITY IN BRITAIN : POLICIES AND ACTION

9

The Role of Black and White Pressure Groups in

Educational Practices and Policies

103

10

The Role of Indian Workers Associations in

Promoting Racial Equality

121

11

Trade Union Participation among

British Punjabi Workers

127

12

Punjabi Women and Trade Unions

132

13

Preparing Handsworth, Birmingham for

the 21st century

138

SECTION III

FROM 'EDUCATION FOR ALL' TO 'LIFELONG LEARNING STRATEGIES'

14

The Swann Report, Black Minorities and

Educational Change

145

15

An Alternative Perspective on 16-19 Year Education:

An Open Letter to Sir Ron Dearing

158

16

National Review of Industrial Language Training Service :

An Alternative Perspective

166

17

Promoting Equal Opportunities

in Further Education

174

18

Work Schemes for the Disadvantaged and

the Role of Inner-city Firms

176

19

Some Reflections on Changes in

Education and Training in Britain

180

SECTION IV

ENTERING THE NEW MILLENNIUM : ISSUES AND CONCERNS OF PUNJABIS IN BRITAIN